IMPERISHABLE 261

bottles filled with the marvellous waters, he wanted to have
his nestling back.

“One moment more,” said Niezguinek, “I want to be
sure that they are of the right sort.”

Then he replaced the entrails in the body of his horse and
sprinkled him first with the Life-giving, then with the Curing,
and finally with the Strengthening Water; after which his
beloved steed leapt to his feet full of strength and cried,
“Ah! how very soundly I have slept.”

Niezguinek released the young raven and said to his horse,
“For sure, you would have slept to all eternity, and have
never seen the sun again, if I had not revived you as you
taught me.”

While speaking he saw the marvellous ship sparkling white
in the sun. She was made entirely of pure silver, with golden
masts. The rigging was of silk, the sails of velvet, and the
whole was enclosed in a casing of inpenetrable steel net-
work. Niezguinek sprang down to the water's edge armed
with his club, and rubbing his forehead with the diamond
key, said:

“ Riding on the ocean waves a magic ship I see ;
Stop and change thy course, O ship, here I hold the key.
Obey the signal known to thee,
And come at once direct to me.”

The vessel turned right round and came at full speed
towards land, and right on to the bank, where it remained
motionless.

Niezguinek smashed in the steel network with his club;
and opening the doors with the diamond key, there found